Table tennis net



Sept. 2, 1969 B. M. HQK 3,464,695

TABLE TENNIS NET Filed Feb. 20, 1967 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. 5465 6 4 6 United States Patent 01 :"fice 3,464,695 PatentedSept. 2, 1969 3,464,695 TABLE TENNIS NET Barbara M. Chock, 64 ClubDrive, Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 11577 Filed Feb. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 617,162Int. Cl. A63b 61 /00, 67/04 U.S. Cl. 273-30 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A table tennis net having an opening at the lower centerportion. The periphery of the opening is provided with a wire framehaving its ends extending a short distance along the lower edge of thenet from each side of the opening. Persons who do not have the height orstrength to swing the paddle and hit the ball over the net can play byhitting the ball through it.

This invention relates to table tennis nets, and more particularly to adual purpose net for playing conventional table tennis and variationsthereof.

In the conventional table tennis game a net is placed upright along thecenter line of a table. The object of the game is for each player to hitthe ball over the net onto the opposite side of the table. Whileordinary persons require considerable practice before they can play thegame well, it has been found that certain people are unable to playtable tennis with any measure of success no matter how much effort theyapply toward perfecting their game. These people include children who donot have the height or strength to swing the paddle and hit the ballover the net to the other side of the table. Similar remarks apply tomany disabled adults and elderly persons.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a dual purpose net forplaying conventional table tennis and variations thereof, the variatonsof the game being particularly suitable for play by disabled, elderlyand very young persons.

In accordance with the principles of my invention I provide a tabletennis net which is similar to those of the prior art in many respects.The major difference is that in the net of my invention there is anopening at the center. This opening, or passthrough has a generallycurved configuration in the illustrative embodiment of my invention. Theopening is widest at the bottom of the net and the width tapers offtoward the top of the net. At the top of the net the two halves areconnected by a very narrow strip of material. The overall shape of thenet is similar to that of a highway overpass. In the play of thevariations of the table tennis game for which the net is designed, theball is hit through the net rather than over it.

Because there is a substantial opening at the center of the net I havefound that in some cases it is difiicult to mount the net such that itstands rigidly. To overcome this problem I provide a metal frame whichis secured to the lower edge of the net, including the edge along thepassthrough. This frame provides the necessary rigidity.

It is a feature of my invention to provide in a table tennis net anopening at the center thereof for defining, together with the table onwhich the net is mounted, a passthrough to permit the playing ofvariations of the conventional table tennis game in which a ball ispropelled through the net rather than over it.

It is another feature of my invention to provide a metal frame, havingthe configuration of the lower edge of the net, attached to the net forenabling it to stand rigidly upright.

Further objects, features and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description inconjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative net of my invention mounted on a table;

FIG. 2 depicts the net and table as seen in a head-on view; and

FIG. 3 depicts the metal frame used in the net to make it rigid.

Referring to FIG. 1, net 5 is shown mounted to table 6. In all majorrespects the net is mounted to the table as the conventional net ismounted for playing table tennis. The major departure from prior artnets is that net 5 includes a cut-out, or passthrough, 15.

In the play of the conventional table tennis game the passthrough isdisregarded. The ball is hit over the net and if it goes through thecut-out, it is considered as if it hit the net for the gain of a pointby the opponent. But when the game is played by disabled, elderly orvery young persons, the object is to hit the ball with a paddle, or evenby hand, through passthrough 15. The ball is rolled along the table andthe objective of each player is to roll it through the cut-out. Pointscan be scored as in the ordinary table tennis game. Obviously, manyvariations are possible. But in all of these the provision of thecut-out enables weaker persons to enjoy the playing of a variation ofthe conventional table tennis game, even though they are incapable ofplaying the conventional game itself.

The net is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. As with ordinary tabletennis nets, there is provided an upper edge 14, two side edges 17 and alower edge 16. At each end of the upper edge there is provided a stringor cord 11 and each end of the lower edge there is provided a similarcord 12. Each of the cords is extended through a respective hole in oneof brackets 10. The cords are tied as shown in the drawing, as is thepractice with conventional table tennis net assemblies. The cords arepulled as taut as possible for maximum rigidity of the net.

Each of brackets 10 is secured to a respective one of mounting lugs 7.At the lower part of each of lugs 7 there is provided a screw holethrough which a turning screw 8 is passed. At the top of each screw 8 isa gripping member 9 for bearing against the underside of table 6.Members 7, 8 and 9 at each side of the net comprise the conventionalclamp for attaching the net to the table.

The net itself comprises webbing 13 which is surrounded by taped edges14, 16, 17 and 18. These tapes (except for tape 18) are similar to thoseused in conventional table tennis nets and serve to prevent fraying ofwebbing 13 at its edges. The tapes also serve to strengthen the net.Tape 18 is provided around the contour of passthrough 15 to serve in asimilar capacity. The actual shape of the passthough may be variedalthough I have found that a very satisfactory shape is that shown inthe drawing, namely, a circular section.

Metal frame 19, shown separately in FIG. 3, is secured to net 5 alongthe lower edge thereof, including the passthrough portion, as shown inFIG. 2. Frame 19 is preferably completely enclosed by tapes 16 and 18,and is not visible. Tapes 16 and 18 are shown partially cut-away in FIG.2 at 20 and 21, to disclose frame 19 within tapes 16 and 18. Because thenet is provided with cut-out 15, it may be difficult to rigidly mountthe net to the table without the inclusion of frame 19. If cords 12 arepulled too taut the passthrough configuration will be distorted. But ifthey are not taut enough the net will sway back and forth in thevicinity of the passthrough. With rigid frame 19 secured to the net itmay be mounted rigidly even with the presence of the cut-out.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment, it is to be understood that this embodiment is merelyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous modifications may be made therein and other arrangements may bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual purpose net for playing table tennis and variations thereof ona playing surface comprising a fabric mesh net of a length to extendacross a predetermined playing area of a table top, means at theopposite ends of said net for securing it in upstanding position on thetable top, said net having upper and lower edges, means on said netintermediate said opposite ends thereof defining an opening therethroughextending upwardly from said lower edge and terminating below said upperedge and a rigid frame having the configuration of a portion of saidlower edge and of said opening and attached to said net along said loweredge, said opening cooperating with said playing area to define a netpassthrough whereby net may be used in both the play of table tenniswherein a ball is hit over the net and variations thereof wherein a ballis propelled through said net passthrough.

2. A dual purpose net in accordance with claim 1 further including atape secured to said net along said opposite ends, said upper and loweredges, and the edge of said net defining said passthrough.

3. A dual purpose net in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of saidsecuring means is a hand-operated table clamp.

4. A dual purpose net in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidpassthrough has a curved configuration.

5. A dual purpose net in accordance with claim 4 further including atape secured to said net along said opposite ends, said upper and loweredges, and the edge of said net defining said passthrough.

6. A dual purpose net in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of saidsecuring means is a hand-operated table clamp.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 746,993 12/1903 Roat 273-105 X755,936 3/1904 Ricau 273 2,206,955 7/ 1940 Hillson 273-30 2,688,4849/1954 Garber 27330 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,516 1/ 1902 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKMAN, Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner

